Damen and Pearlson to cooperate on shiplift projects

Marcel Karsijns (Director Civil & Modular Constructions, Damen Shipyards Gorinchem), Douglas Pearlson (Founder, Pearlson Shiplift Corporation)

FEBRUARY 26, 2016 —The Damen Shipyards Group and Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, Miami, FL, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for close cooperation on the design and execution of shiplift projects around the world.

Pearlson Shiplift Corporation’s origins began in 1957 when Raymond Pearlson invented and built the first Syncrolift shiplift. After many successful years developing this pioneering technology and building up a dedicated global service network, Raymond Pearlson sold the company in 1979. In the meantime the size and capacity of Syncrolift shiplifts worldwide continued to grow.

Responding to service requests from original clients around the world,  Raymond Pearlson’s son, Douglas, founded Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, which offers design, manufacturing and support services for both new and existing shiplift and transfer systems worldwide. The company is not in any way affiliated with Rolls-Royce, plc, the owner of the Syncrolift registered trademark.

The MOU involves Damen Civil, a part of Damen Shipyards Group. Offering maritime construction services at a worldwide level, the Damen Civil portfolio comprises the entire process of shipyard construction – from consultancy and design, all the way through to civil works and the supply of equipment, tools and training.

Taking account of the expertise of Pearlson Shiplift Corporation, the Pearlson team will provide the design and engineering knowledge required by Damen during a shipyard construction project. Pearlson Shiplift Corporation will also deliver all the critical shiplift components.

“This includes all the vertical lifting equipment – the hoists – and the wire ropes,” sayd Pearlson Shiplift Corporation Director Bryan Fraind. “As well as the motor controls and load monitoring system, which are the ‘brains’ of the entire shiplift. Damen will provide all the steel and associated civil works including the lifting platform and cradles and, of course, the project management.”

Building shipyards around the world, one of Damen Civil’s key principles is to combine global operating standards with local employment. This yields vital transfer of knowledge and skills for the long-term development of local economies.